Bespoke gin distillery opens in city

The smell of juniper berries will be wafting into Cambridge when the first bespoke gin distillery in the history of the city opens for business this weekend.

Guided by a master distiller, artisan company, The Cambridge Distillery, is creating a hand-made bespoke spirit where customers personally try and then select their favourite combination of flavours from dozens of botanicals including rosemary, thyme, lemon and orange peel, Earl Grey tea, liquorice and fennel.

The alcohol is then steeped in the customer’s original recipe for two months before being distilled for 18 hours and stamped and wax- sealed with their own name – and you can even buy it by the single bottle as the minimum order is a single 700ml flask.

Husband and wife team Will, 32, and Lucy Lowe, 27, from Cambridge, came up with the idea for the micro-distillery in their home when they were walking labrador Darcy – who now features on the company’s label.

Will, who works as a wine and spirits adviser to hotels, bars and restaurants across the country, told the News they wanted to create “an incredibly personalised product”.

He said: “We chose gin because of all the white spirits it has the most potential to be flavoured in hundreds of different ways – and very subtly as well.

“Plus gin has a long history in England – which makes it a very patriotic drink with ingredients that can be sourced locally.

“Most people do have a favourite gin – but they can’t put their finger on why they like it. This is where we come in and break it down for them to pinpoint what they are tasting.

“It is tailor-made specifically to each customer’s palate.”

The process involves an hour-long consultation where the customer samples every flavour on offer before trying as many different combinations until the taste is perfected.

Six to eight weeks later your bottle is delivered to your door.

Will added: “It is not just about buying a bottle of gin – you find out about production and you find out about yourself and your likes and dislikes. You don’t get more bespoke than this.”

The Cambridge Distillery launches officially on Saturday to coincide with the Boat Race.

The first bottle is £160 including a consultation and thereafter repeat bottles are £70.